What we know now about Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League
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Lancaster Catholic, Berks Catholic, and Schuylkill Valley, the top three contenders in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, each lost last week.
They enter league play Friday a combined 4-5 — not what you might have expected from a group that reached the district playoffs a year ago when they combined for 23 victories.
The Saints’ two losses came to bigger schools and playoff-caliber teams: 45-19 to Twin Valley, which is ranked No. 8 in the state in Class 4A, and 48-41 to Bethlehem Catholic.
Schuylkill Valley’s losses also came to bigger schools, Muhlenberg (45-14) and Fleetwood (31-24), each of which are classified 5A.
Facing bigger squads, said Lancaster Catholic coach Chris Maiorino, is always a factor for the smaller schools that comprise Section 5. Depth becomes a factor, even against teams that might not be considered that strong.
Lancaster Catholic and Columbia are the two smallest schools in the 37-team league, each classified 2A. Annville-Cleona, Berks Catholic, Kutztown, Pequea Valley and Schuylkill Valley are 3A. Hamburg is the smallest 4A in the league.
“We’re all in the same situation with roster sizes,” said Maiorino, “(winning the section often comes down to) who can stay healthy and get through it.”
Annville-Cleona and Pequea Valley, like Lancaster Catholic, are each off to a 2-1 start.
Section 5 remains the most balanced and most interesting of the league’s five sections. Few teams run the table cleanly; there really are no upsets. Even with their rough edges the Crusaders, Saints and Panthers remain at the top of the pecking order as league play unfolds.
Here’s a closer look at the top contenders:
Lancaster Catholic (2-1)
The Crusaders got off to a strong start, winning at Camp Hill 43-7 and beating Delone Catholic 47-20. They were thrown a curve last week when starting quarterback J.J. Boas was injured at practice and couldn’t go against Elco.
Freshman Rowan DeMarco started in his place and was knocked out in the first half. Jack-of-all-trades Colton Hegener took over at quarterback but the Crusaders couldn’t dig out of an early 14-point hole and lost 28-14.
Villanova recruit Brandon Way, the most dynamic player in the section, was held to 64 yards on 18 carries.
Without the passing threat of Boas, who had completed 70 percent of his throws with six TDs over the first two games, the Raiders were able to sell out on Way and controlled the game.
Boas is expected to be back out there Friday against Columbia which will give the Crusaders the counterweight they need to help Way get loose. He rushed for 302 yards over the first two weeks after going for 1,816 yards and 26 TDs as a junior.
“He’s the guy you’ve gotta be concerned about,” said Berks Catholic coach Dave Stahler.
With Way on the field the Crusaders remain a slight section favorite. After opening against Columbia they play perhaps their biggest game of the season in Week 5 at Berks Catholic. That one will go a long way in determining the section champ.
Last year the Crusaders escaped with a 30-28 victory in Lancaster when the Saints fumbled in the red zone in the final minute.
Berks Catholic (1-2)
There’s no doubt the Saints are more than ready for Section 5 play after facing Twin Valley and Bethlehem Catholic. It’s also a sure bet their best football is ahead of them.
“We’re disappointed in (being) 1-2,” said Berks Catholic coach Dave Stahler. “We feel we can compete with just about anybody.”
The Saints didn’t have Owen Schalk, one of their biggest weapons, for the season opener.
They saw starting quarterback Cole Harter knocked out of the game in the first half last week.
This week they get to use a player who could be the x-factor in the section race: Jeremiah Camara.
The junior transferred from Reading High just before the season and is eligible to play for the first time Friday at Pequea Valley.
He’ll see time at halfback, at cornerback, and will return kicks. He’ll add another athlete and speed to the lineup.
“He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands,” Stahler said. “He’s going to have an impact.”
Camara spent four years playing in the Saints’ feeder system and has been practicing with them for three weeks, so he should be a full-go this week.
He’ll join a team that might have the best lines in the section, led by last year’s Section 5 Lineman of the Year Palmer Reber, two-way all-league pick Eric Bennethem and all-league defensive tackle Damoni Daglis.
“(Like last year they’ll) be a physical, downhill team,” said Maiorino.
The Saints will know where they stand in short order: They get Lancaster Catholic at home in Week 5 and play at Schuylkill Valley the following week. They let both those games slip away in the final minute a year ago. They’re determined not to let that happen again.
Schuylkill Valley (1-2)
The Panthers ran into a buzzsaw in their season-opener, losing handily to Muhlenberg, which is off to its first 3-0 start in more than a decade.
Last week’s loss to Fleetwood was more puzzling. They turned the ball over three times in the opening quarter in falling behind 18-0. They trailed 31-7 in the third quarter before making a bold comeback attempt.
“Last year they went through the same things,” Maiorino said, noting that Schuylkill Valley entered league play 1-2 before running the table to claim its first outright section championship.
Not all is lost in Leesport. The Panthers have discovered some weapons in tailback Brandon Pyle, who has averaged 7.6 yards per carry; freshman William Johns, who caught three TDs against Daniel Boone; and Josiah Urbaez, a Muhlenberg transfer who is averaging 21 yards per catch.
First-year starting quarterback Alex Aletras has a rough game against Fleetwood but has shown he can run the offense and find receivers; he’s thrown seven TD passes.
The Panthers get a tough league opener in Kutztown, which has gained more yards than any team in the league. The Cougars will pound the ball all night if you let them; last year All-State linebacker Logan Cammauf and the Panthers had a grip on that, limiting Kutztown to 138 rushing yards.
Schuylkill Valley has ended the regular season against Lancaster Catholic every year since joining the L-L. If it can avoid upsets along the way it could be playing for a third straight league title when they head to Lancaster in Week 10.
